Robin Godwin: Second Phase of Construction at Cross Street Market Begins Next Week, Several Businesses to Close

Starting next week the entire Cross Street Market, other than Nick’s Inner Harbor Seafood at the S. Charles St. entrance, will be closed for renovations. The eastern section of Cross Street Market has been closed since April for construction. Caves Valley Partners (CVP) is leading the $8-million renovation of the 31,800 sq. ft., block-long market that runs from Light St. to S. Charles St. in Federal Hill.

Currently a construction wall stands at the end of Nunally’s Brother’s Choice Meats stall. On the other side of the wall, which makes up about 60% of the market, construction is underway on the section of the market spanning to Light St. Between Nick’s and the construction wall, Steve’s Lunch, Nunnally Brother’s Choice Meats, and The Sweet Shoppe have been operating in recent months. There are also several vacant stalls. Construction on this section of the Cross Street Market – between the current construction wall and Nick’s – will be closed for renovations.

The Sweet Shoppe has already packed up and will be building a new stall in the renovated portion of Cross Street Market. Steve’s Lunch is still open and will close after Saturday. They are also constructing a new stall in the renovated portion of the market. The first renovated portion of the market is expected to open in the next couple of months.

Nunnally Brothers is still open, but is closing the business at Cross Street Market after 143 years this weekend. Owner Brett Nunnally will be joining his brother Mark Nunnally at his store, Package Deals Plus, at 2830 S. Hanover St. They have not ruled out a return to Federal Hill in the future.

Nick’s will remain open, but the business is currently involved in a lease dispute with CVP. A court hearing for this issue has been scheduled for Monday.

As demolition of this section of the market will begin soon, CVP and its contractor McKenzie will likely be building another construction wall at the end of Nick’s space. CVP is hoping to complete the entire project next year.

When Phase 1A of the redeveloped Cross Street Market opens in the coming months, it will feature Annapolis-based Ceremony Coffee, Steve’s Lunch, The Sweet Shoppe, and the return of Fenwick Meats.

Phase 1B, which is expected to open around April or May of 2019, will welcome new stalls including Burger Bar, Rice Crook, Sobeachy, and Phubs. Smoke, which hosted a pop-up stall for about five months in the early part of this year, will also return to Cross Street Market in Phase 1B.

Cross Street Market will have one bar dedicated to craft beer, one bar dedicated to wine, and one bar dedicated to craft cocktails. CVP’s leasing team at Cana Development told SouthBMore.com that most of the spaces have been leased and that there is a waiting list of potential tenants. More announcements will be released in the near future.

The new design of the Cross Street Market features a lot of new windows bringing in natural light, a polished concrete floor, black ceilings, a middle aisle, and six common seating areas.

On the outside of the market, the painted cinderblock side exterior is being sandblasted to give it a gray look. It will also feature new signage and eventually awnings. The entrances to Cross Street Market on Light St. and S. Charles St. will have a retro 1950s Cross Street Market look with a neon sign and a painted sign. An outdoor seating area and a new sidewalk around the perimeter is also planned.

Read SouthBMore.com’s articles detailing the different aspects of the Cross Street Market redevelopment here.